Gate latch



. May 7, 1929. J. B. OLSON 1,711,743

GATE LATCH Filed April 9, 1927 nulnu-lunumulllmill /0 A 6%,M K m A TTORNE Y.

Patented 7, 1929.

umruo srrarris PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. OLSON, OF FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF FORT ATKENSON, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- CONSIN.

GATE LATCH.

Application filed April 9, 1927.. Serial No. 182,280.

This invention relates to improvements in gate latches of the general type disclosed in my former Patent No. 1,226,000, dated May 15, 1917, and in my Patent No. 1,538,056,

'dated May 19, 1925.

Objects of this invention are to provide an improved latch mechanism having one or more forked arms to engage a gate post substantially as disclosed in said former patents, which may be relied upon to engage a gate post when swung to closed position from either direction, and which will automatically become locked regardless of whether the gate is swung wholly to closed position by the hand of the operator or whether it is swung forcibly and allowed to close by momentum.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a simple, inexpensive, and durable latch mechanism which can be relied upon to hold a gate in closed position regardless of attempted manipulation by any of the lower animals, but which a human being can open and close with a minimum loss of time.

A furt-lier object is to provide a gate latch which may be automatically locked and readily released manually by manipulation of the locking device with one hand i In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is an elevationof the upper portion of a gate post and a fragment of a gate provided with duplex latching .and locking mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the latch fork.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views drawn on lines 1- 1 and 55, respectively.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the swinging stop latch taken at right angles to the view of said latch in Figure'3.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The gate illustrated is of the open frame type provided at its swinging margin with a vertically disposed rod 1, preferably tubular,

and connected with other frame members 2,-

3, 4 and 5, tie rod 5 being parallel with the member 1 and the other rods extending horizontally between the two. The gate will, of course, have a lower horizontal member 6 corresponding to the member 2, which will constitute the upper and lower rods of the gate frame. The intermediate horizontal members 3 and 4 merely connect thebar or rod 1 with the rod 5 and serve as supporting members and keepers for the rear arms 8 of the latches, the front arms 9 being forked as best shown at 10 in Figure 2. Where more than one latch is employed, they will prefer ably be connected by a rod 11 so that they will operate in unison. V V

A dog 1 1 is pivoted to the outer side of the rod or bar 1 by a pivot pin or bolt 15, whereby the dog 14 tends to drop by gravity to a vertical position with its lower extremity in close proximity to or substantially in contact with the latch arm 9 adjacent to the post.

Each latch is pivotally mounted upon the gate frame rod 1 above an associated frame rod 3 (or 4-,) the rod 1 extending through the latch hole 17 at the junction of the latch arms 8 and 9. v

Latch arms 8 have depending side vflanges 20 and one or more cross flanges 21 and 22, each of which isprovided with recesses 23 adapted to receive the associated frame rod (or a) as indicated in Figure 1. The arm 8 of each latch is also provided with an upwardly extending lug 25 to which a stop dog 26 is pivoted at 27. This stop dog extends downwardly through hole 28 in the arm 8 and has a generally fan-shaped foot'piece 29 at its lower end. The side margins of the stop dog may be outwardly curved along the concave lines 30 which extend to the respective ends of the feot'piece. 29. The side flanges 20 of they arm 8 and the end walls of the slot 28 limit the swinging movement of the dog upon its pivotal connection 27 and the dog is of suiiicient length to allow one end of the foot piece 29 to engage underneath the associated horizontal frame rod when the recesses 23 are in registry with such horizontal rod either directly above the rod or with the rod engaged therein.

In the construction shown in Figure 1, it will be obvious that when the rods 3 and 1 are engaged in the recesses 23 of the latch arms 8, and the locking dog 14 is in a vertical position directly above the inner ends of the latch arms 9, the latches will be securely locked in such position; therefore the forked arms 10 will be held in post engaging relation to the post- 32 illustrated in that view. To release the latches, it is merely necessary to swing the locking dog 14 upon its pivotal connection with the rod 1 at15 and then lift the associated latch sufficiently to release its arm 8 from the rod 3, stop dog 26 swinging freely out of engagement with the rod 3. The upward movement of the upper latch is transmitted to the lower latch through the rod 11, and as soon as the arms 8 of these latches are above the associated rods 3 and 4 of the gate, a slight pressure on the gate will swing it to open position, each of the latches turning pivot-ally upon the rod 1, and allowing their forks to be withdrawn from the post 32 in substantially the same manner as disclosed in said prior patents. The latches are pro vided with downwardly extending stop lugs 35 which are adanted to engage the rods 3 and l as the forked arms withdraw from the post, whereby the latches will be held in position for re-engagem'cnt of their forked arms with the post when the gate is again closed.

During the final closing movement of the to the for-nod arms 10 will engage the post- 32 and the resistance of the post will then cause the latches to swing until the movement of the gate is arrested by the stop dogs 26 as they engage the frame rods 3 and l. Ther amen the latches will drop by gravity and the rods 3 and i will be received in the recesses 23. The locking dog 14% will. of course, be held in a laterally swung posi, ion

when the latches are arrested, but as soon as the latches drop into latching position, this locking dog swings to the locking position in which it is illustrated in Figure 1.

It will be observed that when the latches are swung to gate releasing position, the supporting rods 3 and 4 may be received in recesses 36 adjacent tothe stop dogs 35 which allow the latches to drop to some extent in this position from that which they occupied when lifted to gate releasing position. The rounded surfaces 37 ride upon the rods and 4 as the latches swing to latching position and lift the latches slightly until they are permitted to drop by reason of the registration of the recesses 23 with these rods. In all positions, however, the latches are supported at a desired elevation by the rods 3 and 4, thereby making it unnecess y to provide the frame rod 1 of the gate with latch supporting devices such as collars or lugs. It will. be understood that the latches will be slipped into position on the rod 1 preparatory to assembling the gate members 2 and 3 therewith.

With latching mechanism of the type herein described, a gate or other closure may be hung for swinging movement in either or both directions from closed position. A person desiring to pass through the gate may with one hand release the locking dog 14;, lift the latch, pass through the gate, and swing it with suiiicient momentum to cause it to close, whereupon the forks will re-engage the post and automatically swing the latches until the stop dogs 26 engage the rods and 4 and arrest such movement. Thereupon the latches drop to holding position with the rods in the recess 23, and the locking dog drops to locking position, all without any further attcntion on the part of the person who passed through the gate.

I claim: v

l. A latch intcrmediat-ely apertured to receive a pivot member and provided with a holding arm recessed on its under side to receive an associated supporting member ant also having a pivoted stop dog adapted to engage the supporting member from either side as the latch arii approaches a position for registry of the recess with said supporting member, said latch being adapted for movement to releasing position when lifted from the supporting member and to be automatically re-enga 'e therewith when its return movement to normal position is arrested by engagement of said stopwith the supporting member.

2. The combination with a swinging closure provided with a latch pivotall-y support ed for swinging movement about a vertical axis and also supported for vertical releasing and latching movements, said latch having a latching arm and a holding arm, of a stop movably mounted on one of said arms and adapted to automatically engage a portion of the closure and arrest the swinging movement when the latch is substantially in position for a vertical latching movement.

3. The combination with a support of a latch thereon supported for limited swinging movement, and bodily movement to and from a normal latching position, in combination with a pivoted stop adapted to automatically arrest the swinging movement preparatory to a bodily movement to said normal position.

4:- The combination with a movable support, provided with a pivotally swinging latch, adapted in one position for movement to an d from a normal latchin position along a line transverse to the plane of its swinging movement, and a pivoted stop dog carried by the latch to automatically arrest its swin ing movement when at latching position, and to freely allow its movement in either direction along said transverse line.

5. The combination with a hinged support, of a latch pivoted thereto for additional swinging movement and also adapted for movement along said pivot aXis, of a holder carried by said support in a position to be engaged by the latch during its final axial movement in one direction, and a yielding stop dog adapted to arrest the swinging movement of the support and latch when the latter is in a position for axial movement to engage said holder.

6. The combination with a hinged gate having a vertically disposed frame rod at its swinging end, of a latch having an aperture Ill) through which said rod extends and a stop receiving aperture and also adapted for moven'ientvertically along said rod, a horizontal frame rod connected to the vertical frame rod in normal supporting relation to the latch, said latch and rod being also adapted for mutual interlocking engagement when the latch isswung upon its pivotal axis to normal position, and a stop pivotally supported from the latch and extending downwardly through the stop aperture therein'in a position to automatically engage the rod when the latch is in position for movement into said interlocking engagement.

The, con ibination with a movable sup port of a latch pivoted thereo and also adapted for movement along its pivotal axis, a holder, limiting said axial movement in one direction, said latch and holder being also adapted for mutual interlocking engagement when the latch is swung upon its pivotal axis to normal position, and a stop pivoted to the latch in a position to automatically enthe holder when the latch is in position for axial movement and interlocking engagement, said support being also provided with a locking dog adapted to automatically move to latch locking position when the latch is in interlocking relation to the holder.

8. The combination with a hinged gate like support, provided with a vertically dis posed pivot member at its outer margin, a latch in sliding pivotal connection with said member, a latch holder limiting downward movement of the latch along said pivot member, an arm carried by the latch and adapted to drop into interlocking engagement with the latch holder, and a stop dog pivoted to said latch in a position to engage the holder and arrest the pivoting movement of the latch when the latch arm is in position to drop into such interlocking engagement, said latch being formed to limit the swinging movemcnt of the stop dog in two directions while allowing suflicient movement to permit it to on the holder from either side.

9. The combination with a hinged gate like RllPl'JOIlJ provided with a latch pivot member and a latch holder, a latch on said pivot member, adapter in one position to drop by gravitv into interlocking engagement with said holder and a pivoted stop dog adapted to automatically arrest a pivotal swinging movement of the latch when in a position for such engagement while allowing free manual manipulation of the latch out of such engage ment.

10. The combination with a hinged gate like support provided with a latch pivotmemher and a latch holder, a latch on said pivot member, adapted in one position to drop by gravity into interlocking engagement with said holder and a pivoted stop dog adapted to automatically arrest a pivotal swinging movement of the latch when in a position for latch by a vertical movement of the latter, and

a stop dog pivoted to the latch and adapted to engage the holder and arrest the swinging movements oi the support and of the latch preparatory to such vertical movement.

12. The combination with a hinged gate.

like support and a co-operating relatively fixed post, of a pivoted latch carried by said support and adapted to engage the post and pivotally swing to latching position during the final closing movement of said support, a holder adapted to be interlocked with the latch by a vertical movement of the latter, and a stop dog pivoted to the latch and adapted to engage the holder and arrest the swinging movements of the support and of the latch preparatory to such vertical movement, and a co-operating pivoted dog carried by said support in a position to drop into locking relation to said latch when the latch and holder are in interlocking engagement.

13. A latch for gates and the like, apertured to receive a vertically disposed pivot rod and provided with an arm having downwardly extending side and cross flanges and a stop dog pivotally supported to extend between and below said flanges to a position for engagement with a relatively fixed latch holder.

14:. A latch mechanism including the combination of a vertically movable latch pivoted to swing about a vertical axis and pro.-

vided with stop lugs for limiting said swinging movement, a latch holder, an arm on the latch adapted to engage the holder to secure the latch in an intermediate position relative to the limits fixed by said stops, said arm being adapted to be released from the holder by a lifting movement and supported thereon during lateral swinging movements of the latch, and a pivoted holder engaging stop depending from the latch arm in a position to center the arm over the holder preparatory to its downward movementinto a latch retaining engagement therewith.

15. A latch mechanism, including the combination of a latch member, a vertical pivotal mounting therefor, a holder limiting downward movement of the latch along its pivotal mountin projections on the latch member adapted in one position to embrace said holder and in other positions to ride thereon and a pivoted stop suspended from the latch member between said projections and adapted to engage the holder from either side When the latch member is moving to .aid first mentioned position.

16. The combination 01" a latch member and a co-operative member mounted for relative adjustment vertically to and from a position of engagement and for relative swinging movement only when (flisengaged and adapted for re-enga 'ement when centered in registry, a pivoted dog carried by one of said memers, a stop carried by the other in the path of said dog during the relative swinging movement of said members, and limiting means restricting the pivotal oscillation of said dog in either direction and so disposed as to determine the limit of interaction of said dog and stop at a point at which said members are in registry irrespective of the direction of such relative swinging move ment.

17. The combination -with a swinging latch member mounted for vertical adjustmei'itand a co-operative member With which said latch member is engageable in a central position in the course of its swinging movement, said latch member being disengageable therefrom by said vertical adjustment, of interacting parts on said members adapted to maintain said latch member at a level for gravitational re-engagement during its swinging movement, a dog pivotally mounted on said latch member and depending therefrom, and stop means on said co-operative member posi tioned for engagement by said dog When said latch member is at said level, saidvdog being formed for interaction with said step means in either direction of swinging movement of said latch member to terminate such swinging movemcntwith said members 11 registry for gravitational re-engagen'ient.

l8. Alatch member having a pivot aperture and a stop receiving aperture in combination *ith a stop pivot-ally supported from the latch memberat one side of the stop aperture, said stop member being iormed'to extend through the aperture for limited swinging movement therein and projecting from the latch member on the opposite side sufiiciently for Working engagement With a relatively fixed member.

JOHN B. OLSON. 

